48 
appears as a thin film. The hyphae also invade the mesophyll and 
are found in the vascular system of the midrib and veins. The 
invasion of the hyphae is not uniform under the epidermis, but 
appears as irregular patches, giving the leaf a mottled appearance. 
This is especially striking on the petioles, where there is a greater 
contrast between the lighter colored epidermis and the sooty colored 
hyphae. On the petioles the hyphae may also appear on the surface, 
and in the region of the nectaries at the base of the leaflets they may 
entirely obscure the tissues beneath. 
Small black spherical fructifications are enmeshed in the sub- 
merged hyphae and may appear on both sides of the leaf. They may 
be especially numerous in the tissues in the region of the midrib. 
They are visible through the epidermis. The hyaline spherical to 
elongated spores are expelled in a gelatinous mass through a small 
opening projecting through the epidermis. The fruiting stages of 
the fungus in the material examined appeared to be immature, and it 
has not been possible to determine the organism satisfactorily. The 
fungus is also found on young green pods. The species is in no wise 
associated with scale insects. 
The fungus from its endophytic habit is a parasite and in later 
stages of infection probably causes some injury to the leaves and 
fruits. 
SOOTY MOLD 
In damp situations the leaves of seedlings or of larger plants 
when growing under heavy canopy are frequently grown over with 
a black mold (Capnodium sp.). The mold is entirely superficial and 
may be peeled from the surface of the leaf, or it will flake off when 
the leaves are dried. The fungus develops in a sugary solution de- 
posited by insects or mealybugs. These insects may produce the solu- 
tion in such quantity that it drips over the stems and leaves of the 
plants, furnishing a rich substratum for the propagation of the 
fungus. The spores of the fungus are caught in these drops or on 
the film formed over the substrata, develop luxuriantly, and soon 
cover the surface of the leaves and stems. 
The crust is composed of a basal layer of septate brown hyphae, 
often extensively branched. The cells of these hyphae are often 
very irregular and conspicuously constricted at the septa. The 
hyphae less united with the basal layer break up and form chains 
of simple spherical brown conidia, or sometimes they are formed 
in globose masses, gemmiform and variously septate (Coniothecium). 
In some forms the conidia are uniseptate or in pairs. In the form 
most commonly observed elongate-ovoid septate (Brachysporium) 
or stellate septate (Triposporium) conidia were observed. These 
conidial forms are capable of germination and when blown about by 
the wind rapidly extend the fungus. A pyenidial stage is sometimes 
produced, the pyenidia being usually in the form of a straight or 
curved cylinder slightly swollen at the base and open at the tip. 
The pyenidia are filled with small hyaline elliptical to ovate 1-celled 
spores. The perithecial or ascigerous stage less commonly observed 
in these molds is usually in the form of a globose body with a thick 
stalk or is flask shaped with a fringed opening. 
The asci are irregular, usually rounded, and contain four to eight 
brownish green septate ascospores. 
